Your amazing smile can set this mommy off, and don't even get me started about when we lock eyes...you look up at me and just stare and you have this twinkle in your eye and, as you know, there's been plenty of moments where you illicit tears in mommy just by looking at me with those big brown peepers.
I tell you I love you about 273 times a day, and my hope is that even though the words mean nothing to you at this point, they'll penetrate your heart and you will always know that you were adored. Spoiled rotten. Kissed and hugged and held and tickled and smelled and kissed some more and absolutely adored.
And every time I say it and we talk about how much we love you and how fun you are, really what I'm saying is thank you, Lord. Thank you, Lord for giving us this baby to cherish and raise and disciple and be a part of this family. My bursting heart is filled with such love and gratitude all mixed into one.
So now that that is clear, I wanted to tell you some things about the last 6 months that I don't want to ever forget....and I gotta hurry because you're only 6 months old for another couple of hours!
30 weeks
• I kind of thought you'd be off sitting in the corner constantly being lugged here and there, always sleeping short little naps in the car seat, barely getting any attention and not because we didn't love you or want you but that's just always what I envisioned a third or fourth child doing because that's what I had heard from other moms. I have been absolutely floored by the amount of time I have with you every day. It's a lot. And I am so grateful for it! Conrad and Gwendolyn play together and guess what mommy often sneaks in.....Luther Thomas snuggles!! It's so wonderful! You love being in the carrier and that's made all the difference. I didn't really wear the other two a ton, but you love being in there and I just love having you close.
• If people are around you for an extended period of time, they'll often ask if you're always so content. At least for now, you're happy to sit on my lap and put toys in your mouth or be on the hip of (preferably) someone you know. It can be pushing five hours between your nap and bedtime and you're just happy to be along for the ride. Although, having said that, you definitely have your moments of fussiness but even then you really just want someone to hold you. (Playing alone on your play mat gets old.) OR the spoon isn't returning to your mouth quickly enough. You don't typically like to wait to be served.
• You have this adorable personality that is a mix of both Gwendolyn and Conrad. You're actually a pretty quiet baby normally...even when you sleep you're quiet (and always have been.) You occasionally practice your high pitched squeals/yelling and have a super dramatic cry if you're really upset, but if you're fed and happy you are generally quiet. (Which is nice for church.) Unlike your sister, you smile at the drop of a hat. And it is such a fantastic smile. I want to ingrain it in my memory for.ever. The eyebrows rise and then fall, the cheeks plump up, the twinkle goes off in your eye. It's the absolute best. You don't have a belly laugh like your big bro, but your little giggle is so sweet. It really is so exciting to watch your personality form.
• We fell into a schedule/routine so easily. It barely took any time for the four of us to figure out our days at home, and by the grace of God, I was able to get the three of you down for afternoon naps all at the same time fairly early on. That was a total God thing. Even now, I love our afternoon routine. We finish up lunch and all go up and read books on Gwendolyn's bed. You lay down and I sit on the corner and hold it up for everyone to see. There have been days you've fallen asleep right then and there, but most of the time we read, I go put Conrad down while Sissy sings to you and entertains you, and then I return to take you into our room to nurse while Sissy has quiet time in her room.
• Sometimes I laugh because you'd think your daddy and I were first time parents. You'd think we would know what we were doing by now, but you kind of forget everything. We went on several dates with you (when you were younger) leaving G and C with J and T and it would take both of us to get settled into our booth with the diaper bag and car seat and stroller and everything needed to take along when you have a new baby. We'd be handing you over the table so the other person could eat and both standing up with you at different times if you decided to be picky and not want to sit down. Ohhh it was quite funny. We had some very interesting "dates" this past summer. I used to love a good dinner date with your dad, but nowadays I'd rather have his full attention and conquer the grocery store in record time or run a bunch of errands together. Times have certainly changed!
We did have a fabulous anniversary date this past week though...dinner and dessert with coffee and everything. So we still got it.
• You have been our worst and best sleeper for various reasons. You rarely nurse to sleep and instead like your paci and your blanket and mommy's shoulder after eating. Like clockwork, you burp and lay your head down and fall asleep, sometimes pushing off of me to get comfy laying down in my arms. If I'm busy and need to lay you down (God forbid right?!) then you easily lay down, often roll onto your side, and fall asleep. Sometimes you cry, but it's not usually for long.
You were sleeping like a dream until June (first slept through the night at 7 weeks!) and since you had an ear infection, it's been pretty rough. You've given me a nice long stretch about once every two weeks or so, if that. Other nights it's been two, three, four times a night plus some patting and putting your paci back in. Not.easy. When you do sleep, it's wonderful and I love having you in our room. It's true that you've been a bit spoiled sleeping with us in our bed more often than not. Now that you take up more room, that's become harder so Daddy has been sleeping in the basement a lot lately. We sound like a hot mess over here, but I know we'll get through this phase. Eventually. (The last two nights I've been sleeping in the same room and you've made it until 5:00. Woohoo!)
• You're not a fan of loud noises or too much commotion. I do not blame you.
• You have become quite the mama's boy. You turn to try and find me, following me if I walk away. You have even cried a few times handing you off to strangers, which breaks my heart. Thankfully you don't cry long. Like I tell Gwendolyn and Conrad, mommy always comes back!
• It never fails...your brother and sister make you so happy. Watching the three of you together about puts me over the edge. Conrad needs to be watched, but Gwendolyn helps mommy out so much and loves on you with such a willing heart. She'll drop everything she's doing to be with you, and gets so excited to see you every morning.
• You have so many nick names! Luther Tom, Luther Thomas, Hobie Jobie, Lussa, Lussa Tom, Lute. I occasionally call you "brother" but then Brother gets a bit confused. Baby Brother just hasn't stuck to help clarify.
• You finally had a tooth pop through last week!! Bottom right. And it is so cute!
This barely scratches the surface of all that has transpired since March 10th, but hopefully it provides sufficient detail for me to recall this crazy, amazing, tiring, incredible, busy time in our lives when I am old and gray. I want to be able to remember and share with you all that joy that we had in this house because you entered our family. I dream about the little boy you'll eventually become, and I pray the Lord gives us many, many long years together.
I know you know, but I love you Luther Thomas. And I pray God continues to help us parent with wisdom and grace so that we can in turn raise you three to fear and love the Lord. There would be no greater joy than the assurance of spending eternity together.
I will always be your biggest fan, and I will always be praying for you.
Love,
Mommy
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